Adaptive Garment with Fastening Means for Achieving Various Looks

ABSTRACT

A garment includes a first sleeve; a second sleeve; and means for fastening the first sleeve or the second sleeve in a variety of manner to therefore provide the garment with a plurality of looks. A breadth of the garment measured from a distal end of the first sleeve to another distal end of the second sleeve is equal to or greater than 1.5 meters, when the garment is laid flat with the first sleeve and the second sleeve placed substantially perpendicular to side lines of the garment.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims foreign priority to French Patent Application No. 07 52629, filed Jan. 11, 2007.

BACKGROUND

The invention concerns a garment that can be worn in a vast number of ways. The invention concerns more precisely, but not restrictively, a garment that can be worn in a number of ways with its lengthened sleeves.

There are different kinds of jerseys. What make them look different are the variety of materials used, their colours, their dimensions or else the fact that they have or do not have sleeves. Measurements of a jersey remain its characteristic features. Especially, when a jersey has sleeves, their ends are generally designed to come up to the elbow of the person wearing it (short sleeves), or to fit her wrists (long sleeves). However, conventionally, each jersey can only be worn in a single way, that is the only way in which the person slips each arm in each sleeve.

SUMMARY

One objective of the present invention is to offer a garment with technical features allowing the implementation of numerous ways of wearing the garment.

In order to reach this objective, a garment in size 1, 2 or 3 is proposed within the scope of the present invention, wherein the length L between the ends of the sleeves, called the breadth of the garment, measures at least 1.5 meters. According to one embodiment of the invention, the garment includes at least one of the following features:

-   -   1) the breadth of the garment measures at least 1.55 meters;     -   2) the garment including complementary fastening means, that are         fixed or sewed on the garment;     -   3) at least one of the sleeves with at least one fastening         means, fixed at the level of the end that is proximate to sleeve         cuff, complementing another fastening means of the garment;     -   4) a neck of which at least one of the corners has at least one         fastening means, complementing another fastening means of the         garment;     -   5) fastening means comprised of complementary elements such as         hooks and eyes, wherein a first eye fixed at the left corner of         the neck is designed to be interdependent with a first hook         fixed at the level of the end that is proximate to the cuff of         the right sleeve, and a second eye fixed at the level of the end         that is proximate to the cuff of the left sleeve is designed to         complement a second hook fixed at the right corner of the neck;     -   6) other fastening means fixed at half-distance more or less         between the two corners of the neck;     -   7) that the garment can be a jumper, a bodysuit, a short dress,         a long dress, a semicircular dress, a jumper/pants suit, or a         jumper/shorts suit; and     -   8) that the neck is flat.

In order to reach this objective, it is also proposed within the scope of the present invention a first knotting process of a garment such that a person may:

-   -   1) lay the sleeves of the garment in a plan that is more or less         perpendicular to side lines of the garment;     -   2) on this plan, tie the sleeves to one another on a first side         of the garment;     -   3) bring the sleeves onto the other side of the garment; and     -   4) knot the sleeves together on that other side, at a         predetermined distance d₁ from the ends of the sleeves in order         to ensure the fitting of the garment on the person wearing it.

The first knotting process further offers at least one of the following features:

-   -   1) crossing the sleeves to tie them up on the first side of the         garment;     -   2) knotting the sleeves on the first side of the garment after         the sleeves are crossed; and     -   3) passing each sleeve through a stiff ring and folding back         each sleeve on its side of the garment, without crossing the         sleeves, to tie the sleeves on the first side of the garment.

In order to reach this objective, it is also proposed within the scope of the present invention a second knotting process of a garment. According to the second knotting process, the sleeves are tied to one another at a predetermined distance d₁ from their respective ends, so as to form a necklace fit to maintain the garment on the person wearing it. This second process offers at least one of the following features:

-   -   1) crossing the sleeves at another predetermined distance d₂         from the ends of the sleeves, longer than the predetermined         distance d₁, thus forming a crossing point fit to maintain the         garment on the person wearing it;     -   2) passing each sleeve through a stiff ring at a predetermined         distance d₂ from the ends of the sleeves, longer than the         predetermined distance d₁, to maintain the garment on the person         wearing it; and     -   3) the predetermined distance d₂ being so chosen that the double         of the difference d₂−d₁ corresponds more or less to the collar         measurement of the person wearing the garment.

In order to reach this objective, it is also proposed within the scope of the present invention a third knotting process of a garment. According to the invention, at least one first fastening means, fixed at the level of the end that is proximate to the cuff of the sleeve, is clipped to another fastening means of the garment, fixed at a corner of the neck and which is complementary to the first fastening means in order to form a strap fit to maintain the garment on the person wearing it. This third process offers at least one of the following features:

-   -   1) crossing the sleeves before fastening one or all of the         complementary fastening means to one another, thus forming a         crossing point fit to maintain the garment on the person wearing         it; and     -   2) knotting the sleeves at the level of the crossing point.

Furthermore, all these processes offer at least the feature of twisting one or both sleeves around its or their longitudinal axis.

Other features, aims and advantages of the present invention will come to light while reading the following detailed description and viewing the appended drawings that are given as non-restrictive examples. The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objectives and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a schematic front view of a garment in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2 a to 21 a show a number of front views of a garment knotted and/or clipped based on various processes in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention.

FIGS. 2 b to 21 b show a number of rear views of the garment respectively shown in FIGS. 2 a to 21 a in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a garment laid crosswise in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The garment has two sleeves 2 and 3. Each sleeve 2 or 3 includes an area called sleeve cuff 7 or 8 at the level of the sleeve ends. Each sleeve cuff 7 or 8 is delimited by a respective proximal end 71 or 81 and a respective distal end 21 or 31 of each sleeve 2 or 3. The total breadth of garment 1, defined by the length L between the distal end 21 of sleeve 2 and the distal end 31 of sleeve 3, has a value of at least 1.5 meters regardless the garment size being 1, 2 or 3. Typically, the breadth of the garment defined by the length L is approximately 1.55 meters. Furthermore, a typical model of the garment 1 may for instance offer a height H of about 0.64 meters, and a neck 4 with a width E of about 0.35 meters. This typical model will offer for instance a cuff with length L₁ and height H₁ of equally about 0.105 meter. For this typical model, an area of the garment 1 designed to be at the level of a pelvis has for instance width L₂ of about 0.45 meter and height H₂ of about 0.12 meter. This area along with the cuffs 7 and 8 offers an elastic feature allowing them to fit the body of a person wearing the garment.

Preferably but not restrictively, sleeves 2 and 3 have the same length. In the case where the garment 1 has a size of 2, the sleeve is about 0.745 meters long, with the length measured from the corner 40 or 41 of neck 4 to the respective end of sleeve 2 or 3. The minimum value of the total breadth L of the garment 1 makes it possible to have numerous knotting processes, which allow the garment to be perfectly maintained on the person wearing it—a feature that is difficult if not impossible to realize with a conventional garment. In fact, a conventional garment offers a much shorter breadth with the sizes taken into account. For all sizes 1, 2 and 3 conventional garments, their breadths are generally shorter than 1.6 meters. Consequently, the present invention proposes garments with long or lengthened sleeves that separate from the conventional ones.

The sleeve cuffs 7 and 8 are made of a material or a knitting mode different from that of the garment 1, so that they ensure a close fitting of sleeves 2 and 3 on the forearms of a person wearing the garment 1. A similar material or knitting mode can be used in the lower part of garment 1, when the latter is in the form of a jersey in order to ensure a proper fitting on the hips or the pelvis of the person. Fastening means 5, 6, 9, and 10 complementary of one another are fixed or sewed on the garment 1. More precisely, one or both sleeves 2 and 3 include at least one fastening means 5 or 6 fixed respectively at the level of the proximal end 71 or 81 of the sleeve cuff 7 or 8. Fastening means 9 and 10 complementary to fastening means 5 and 6 are fixed at the level of the corners 40 and 41 of the neck 4. More precisely, fastening means 5, 6, 9, and 10 are made of complementary elements like eyes and hooks.

Considering the front view of the garment 1 in FIG. 1, a first eye 9 placed at the left corner 40 of the neck 4 is designed to complement a first hook 6 placed at the level of the proximal end 81 of cuff 8. A second eye 5 placed at the level of the proximal end 71 of cuff 7 is designed to complement a second hook 10 placed at the right corner 41 of the neck 4. Fastening means 5, 6, 9 and 10 enable one or both sleeves 2 and 3 to be attached to the neck 4 in order to form one or two straps that maintain the garment 1 on the shoulders of the person wearing it.

It is understood by a person skilled in the art of fashion designs that it is possible to switch the positions of the eyes and hooks on the garment, i.e. to use hooks 5, 9 and eyes 6, 10 or any other complementary means without altering the intended technical effect. Placing fastening means 5 and 6 at the level of proximal ends 71 and 81 of sleeves cuffs 7 and 8 allows, when these fastening means 5 and 6 are clipped to their complementary fastening means 9 and 10, the cuffs 7 and 8 to be hanging, thereby offering an aesthetic aspect.

It is understood by a person skilled in the art of fashion designs that, on a technical level, the invention is not limited to having the fastening means 5 and 6 precisely at the places shown in FIG. 1, and it is perfectly conceivable to place the fastening means 5 and 6 closer to or farther from the distal ends 21 and 22. Similarly, it is not necessary to place the fastening means 5 and 6 on the lower parts 22 and 32 of the sleeves 2 and 3 as shown in FIG. 1. They can be placed on the higher parts 23 and 33 of the sleeves 2 and 3 as well, without altering the expected technical effect. However, it is understood by a person skilled in the art of fashion designs that placing the fastening means 5 and 6 on the lower parts 22 and 23 of the sleeves 2 and 3 is flattering because the fastening means 5 and 6 are hidden from view.

The neck 4 of the garment 1 is flat, i.e. it offers level sides when garment 1 is laid flat. This aspect is illustrated on the example of FIG. 1 where the neck 4 forms a straight line in alignment with the sleeves 2 and 3. The fact that neck 4 is flat enables a variety of knotting and/or fastening processes, which are illustrated as non-restrictive examples in FIGS. 2 a to 21 b.

The invention is not limited to the above description, but covers any embodiments, alternatives and variations complying with its spirit. The invention can be applied to various types of garments, such as a jumper, a bodysuit, a short dress, a long dress, a semicircular dress, a jumper/pants suit, and a jumper/shorts suit. The proposed garment can be worn together with accessories such as rings, clips or other kinds in combination with the sleeves to offer specific technical functions and aesthetic features. Other fastening means 15 can also be provided, for example, at more or less half-distance between the corners 40 and 41 of the neck 4, in order to offer additional fastening processes for the garment. As another example, fastening means 16, 17, 18 and 19 can be fixed or sewed at side lines of the garment 1 or at the distal ends 21 and 31 of the cuffs 7 and 7 to provide a variety of ways of wearing the garment 1.

One particular embodiment of the present invention is proposed to provide the garment 1 shown in FIG. 1 with specific dimensions. The distance between fastening means 9 and 10 is approximately 43 cm. The vertical distance between the fastening means 9 and 16 or between 10 and 17 is approximately 20 cm. The distance between the fastening means 15 and 6 or between the fastening means 15 and 5, in a position where the garment 1 is laid flat and the sleeves 2 and 3 are extended outwardly with respect to the body of the garment 1, is approximately 93 cm. In the same position, the distance between the fastening means 9 and 5 or between the fastening means 10 and 6 is approximately 60 cm. The length of the sleeve cuff 7 or 8 is approximately 15 cm. These placements of fastening means set this invention apart from conventional clothing, which typically has a column of buttons disposed from the middle of the neck down to the waist.

In accordance with various embodiments of the invention, it is conceivable to knot, fasten and finally use the garment 1 in a number of manners that are illustrated as non-restrictive examples in FIGS. 2 a to 21 b. Various view of the garment 1 obtained from a first knotting process and its variants are, for example, illustrated in FIGS. 2 a, 2 b, 3 a, 3 b, 4 a, 4 b, 17 a, 17 b, 18 a, and 18 b.

In the first process, the sleeves 2 and 3 are laid on a plan that is more or less perpendicular to side lines 13 and 14 of the garment 1. The sleeves 2 and 3 are linked to one another on a first side 11 or 12 of the garment 1, and then the sleeves 2 and 3 are brought onto the other side 12 or 11 of the garment 1, with the end sleeves 2 and 3 knotted to one another on that other side. The first side can either be the front 11 or the rear 12 of the garment 1. In this process, the sleeves 2 and 3 are knotted (knot 50) to one another on the other side at a predetermined distance d₁ from the respective distal sleeves ends 21 and 31. This predetermined distance d₁ can, for example but not restrictively, more or less correspond to the sleeve cuffs 7 and 8.

In an embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4 a and 4 b, the sleeves 2 and 3 can be knotted (knot 51) together on the first side 11 following the above steps, after they are brought together onto the first side 11. To bring the sleeves 2 and 3 together, they can be crossed as shown in FIG. 2 b or 3 a. It is understood that the sleeves 2 and 3 must be pulled down in order to tighten the garment 1 to fit the person wearing it.

As shown in FIGS. 17 b and 18 a, to link the sleeves 2 and 3 to one another on the first side 11 or 12 of the garment, each sleeves 2 or 3 can be passed through a stiff ring 60, and each sleeves 2 or 3 can be pulled down onto its respective side of the garment 1, without crossing each other. As a result, it is understood that the sleeves 2 and 3 available for knotting are doubled in length, and the sleeves 2 and 3 must be pulled down from their respective ends in order to tighten as much as necessary to make the garment 1 fit the person wearing it. This first process aims to ensure maintaining the garment 1 well enough around the chest of the person wearing it, particularly with knots 50 and 51 that reinforce the maintenance.

Various embodiments of the garment 1 obtained from a second knotting process are illustrated in FIGS. 5 a, 5 b, 6 a, 6 b, 7 a, 7 b, 8 a, 8 b, 9 a, 9 b, 19 a, 19 b, 20 a, 20 b, 21 a, and 21 b. In this process, the sleeves 2 and 3 are knotted together at a predetermined distance d₁ from their respective distal ends 21 and 31 so that a necklace 52 is formed with the sleeves 2 and 3 fitting on the person wearing the garment 1. This predetermined distance d₁ can correspond to the length of the sleeve cuffs 7 and 8. The necklace 52 offers a maintaining function of the garment 1 on the person wearing it, as it is designed to be worn either by the nape of the neck (see FIGS. 6 a, 7 a, 8 a, 19 a, 21 a and 6 b, 7 b, 8 b, 19 b, 21 b), by the neck (see FIGS. 5 a and 5 b), or around the neck and the nape (see FIGS. 9 a, 20 a and 9 b, 20 b) of this person.

In another embodiment of this process, the sleeves 2 and 3 can be crossed, thus forming a crossing point 53, as it is illustrated in FIGS. 5 a, 5 b, 6 a, 6 b, 7 a, 7 b and 9 a, 9 b, to maintain the garment 1 on the person wearing it. In a particular case where the necklace 52 is designed to be worn around the neck and the nape of the neck (see FIGS. 9 a and 9 b), the crossing point 53 is fixed at a predetermined distance d₂ from the respective distal ends 21 and 31 of the sleeves 2 and 3. It is understood that this predetermined distance d₂ is longer than the predetermined distance d₁ designed for the knot 50. More precisely, the predetermined distance d₂ is so chosen that the double of the difference d₂-d₁ corresponds more or less to the neck measurement of the person wearing the garment 1.

In another embodiment of this process, each sleeve 2 or 3 can be passed through the stiff ring 60 at a predetermined distance d₂ from the distal ends 21 or 31, longer than the predetermined distance d₁, for maintaining the garment 1 on the person wearing it. Whether with a crossing point 53 or a stiff ring 60 at the predetermined distance d₂ as described above, it is understood that the maintenance of the garment 1 is reinforced because both ways allow the part of the garment 1 designed to be at the chest height closely fitting the person wearing it. Particularly, the crossing point 53 or the stiff ring 60 provides a bra function. To strengthen the maintenance around the neck (and the nape of the neck), the crossing point 53 made at the predetermined distance d₂ can be replaced with a knot 54. These fastening processes can thus complete the sleeves knotting (knot 50) at the predetermined distance d₁. In combination with the knot 50, it is possible to make a collaret out of the necklace 52 that fits at best to the neck of the person, for a good maintenance of the garment 1 (FIGS. 9 a, 20 a and 9 b, 20 b for example).

Various embodiments of the garment 1 obtained by a third process are illustrated in FIGS. 10 a, 10 b, 11 a, 11 b, 12 a, 12 b, 13 a, 13 b, 14 a, 14 b, 15 a, 15 b, 16 a and 16 b. In this process, at least one fastening means 5 or 6 placed at the level of the proximal end 71 or 81 of the sleeve cuff 7 or 8 is fastened to another fastening means 9 or 10 of the garment, placed at the corner 40 or 41 of the neck 4, and complementary to the first fastening means 5 or 6. Considering the placement of the fastening means 5, 6, 9, and 10 on the garment 1 where non-complementary means are placed on the same side of the garment 1 (eyes on one side, hooks on the other side), the process provides a stage, in which the sleeves 2 and 3 are crossed to form a crossing point 55, before fastening one or more fastening means complementary to one another. The crossing point 55 offers a flattering feature as it allows a better fitting of the garment 1.

In another embodiment, the crossing point 55 can be strengthened while forming a knot. In most of the examples illustrated, both sleeves 2 and 3 are fastened with respective complementary fastening means 5, 6, 9, and 10 of the garment 1. However, this is not the case according to an embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 16 a and 16 b. The complementary fastening means are needed on the same side of the garment 1. On the other hand, in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 15 a and 15 b, the clipping means placed at the corners of the neck 4 are not necessary, but a similar fastening means 15 placed at more or less half-distance along the neck between both corners 40 and 41 is. As shown in the attached drawings, in some variants of the processes, at least one of the sleeves 2 and 3 is twisted around its longitudinal axis.

It is understood that the knotting and fastening processes described above do not limit the scope of the invention that extends to all knotting and/or fastening process of a garment proposed in accordance with the spirit of the invention. The above illustration provides many different embodiments or embodiments for implementing different features of the invention. Specific embodiments of components and processes are described to help clarify the invention. These are, of course, merely embodiments and are not designed to limit the invention from that described in the claims.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in one or more specific examples, it is nevertheless not designed to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the invention, as set forth in the following claims. 

1. A garment comprising: a first sleeve; a second sleeve; a neck; and fastening means having first and second elements placed at the neck, and third and fourth elements placed on the first and second sleeves, respectively, wherein the first, second, third and fourth elements are able to connect with one another in a variety of manners, thereby providing the garment with a plurality of looks.
 2. The garment according to claim 1 wherein a breadth of the garment measured from a distal end of the first sleeve to another distal end of the second sleeve is equal to or greater than 1.5 meters, when the garment is laid flat with the first sleeve and the second sleeve placed substantially perpendicular to side lines of the garment.
 3. The garment according to claim 1 wherein the third and fourth elements are complementary.
 4. The garment according to claim 1 comprising a first sleeve cuff and a second sleeve cuff disposed at ends of the first sleeve and the second sleeve, respectively, wherein the third element is placed at a proximal end of the first sleeve cuff, and the fourth element is placed at a proximal end of the second sleeve cuff.
 5. The garment according to claim 4 wherein the first and second fastening means are placed at corners of the neck.
 6. The garment according to claims 5 wherein the first and third elements are complementary, whereas the second and fourth elements are complementary.
 7. The garment according to claims 6 wherein the fastening means comprises a fifth element placed approximately in middle between the first and second elements at the neck.
 8. The garment according to claim 7 wherein the fastening means comprises sixth and seventh elements placed at side lines of the garment.
 9. The garment according to claim 8 wherein a distance between the first and second elements is approximately 43 cm.
 10. The garment according to claim 8 wherein a distance between the first and seventh elements or between the second and sixth element is approximately 20 cm.
 11. The garment according to claim 8 wherein a distance between the fifth and third element or between the fifth and fourth elements is approximately 93 cm.
 12. The garment according to claim 8 wherein a distance between the second and third elements or between the first and fourth elements is approximately 60 cm.
 13. The garment according to claim 8 wherein the first or second sleeve cuff has a length of approximately 15 cm.
 14. The garment according to claim 1 is a jumper, a bodysuit, a short dress, a long dress, a semicircular dress, a jumper/pants suit, or a jumper/shorts suit.
 15. A method for knotting a garment comprising: laying a first sleeve and a second sleeve of the garment on a plan substantially perpendicular to side lines thereof; bringing together the first sleeve and the second sleeve onto a first side of the garment; bringing back the first sleeve and the second sleeve onto a second side opposite to the first side of the garment; and knotting together the first and second sleeves on the second side, at a predetermined distance from distal ends of the first and second sleeves, to maintain the garment on a person wearing it.
 16. The method according to claim 15 comprising crossing the first and second sleeves in order to bring them together onto the first side of the garment.
 17. The method according to claim 16 wherein the knotting is done subsequent to the crossing.
 18. The method according to claim 15 comprising: passing the first and second sleeves through a ring to bring the first and second sleeves together onto the first side of the garment; and bringing back the first and second sleeves onto the second side of the garment, without crossing the first and second sleeves.
 19. The method according to claim 18 wherein the first and second sleeves are knotted together at a first predetermined distance measured from distal ends of the first and second sleeves, so as to form a necklace for maintaining the garment on a person wearing it.
 20. The method according to claim 19 wherein the first and second sleeves are crossed at a second predetermined distance measured from distal ends of the first and second sleeves, the second predetermined distance being longer than the first predetermined distance.
 21. The method according to claim 20 comprising passing the first and second sleeves through a ring at a second predetermined distance measured from distal ends of the first and second sleeves, the second predetermined distance being longer than the first predetermined distance.
 22. The method according to claim 20 or 21 wherein the second predetermined distance is so chosen that twice the difference between the first and second predetermined distances corresponds to a neck measurement of a person wearing the garment.
 23. The method according to one of claim 15 wherein the first and second sleeves are fastened to the garment in a manner that forms straps for maintaining the garment on a person wearing it.
 24. The method according to claim 23 wherein the first and second sleeves are crossed at a crossing point before they are fastened to the garment.
 25. The method according to claim 24 wherein the first and second sleeves are knotted together at a level of the crossing point.
 26. The method according to one of claims 15 comprising twisting the first or second sleeve around its longitudinal axis. 